Idioms are vibrant, imaginative phrases that add flair and personality to our language, often conveying meanings far beyond the literal words. They’re like little linguistic puzzles that make conversations more engaging and expressive. For anyone looking to spice up their communication, idioms are a fantastic tool to master. Specifically, idioms that express the idea of something “never going to happen” are perfect for humorously or firmly shutting down unrealistic expectations or impossible scenarios. These phrases are not only fun but also incredibly useful in everyday conversations, whether you’re dismissing a far-fetched plan or playfully rejecting an absurd suggestion. In this blog post, we’ll dive into 45 idioms that vividly capture the notion of impossibility, complete with their meanings, example sentences, and alternative ways to say them. Plus, we’ve included a practical exercise to help you practice and make these idioms a natural part of your vocabulary. Let’s explore this colorful world of expressions that scream, “Not in a million years!”
Idioms for Never Going to Happen
1. When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will absolutely never happen.
In a Sentence: My brother says he’ll clean his room without being told when pigs fly, so I guess it’s staying messy forever.
Other Ways to Say: Never in a million years, Not in this lifetime
2. Over my dead body
Meaning: Absolutely not, under any circumstances.
In a Sentence: You want to borrow my brand-new phone for the weekend? Over my dead body, you’ll have to get your own!
Other Ways to Say: No way, Not happening
3. Not in a million years
Meaning: Completely impossible, even in the distant future.
In a Sentence: You think I’m going to jump off that cliff into the freezing water? Not in a million years, I’d rather stay warm and dry!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Out of the question
4. When hell freezes over
Meaning: An event so unlikely it’s practically impossible.
In a Sentence: She said she’d forgive him for forgetting their anniversary when hell freezes over, so he’s in big trouble now.
Other Ways to Say: Never gonna happen, In your dreams
5. Fat chance
Meaning: Very little or no possibility of occurring.
In a Sentence: You think I’m going to let you eat all my pizza? Fat chance, I’ve been looking forward to this all day!
Other Ways to Say: Slim chance, No way
6. In your dreams
Meaning: Something that only exists in someone’s imagination.
In a Sentence: You want to beat me at this video game? In your dreams, I’ve been practicing for weeks!
Other Ways to Say: Dream on, Not a chance
7. Don’t hold your breath
Meaning: Don’t expect it to happen anytime soon, if ever.
In a Sentence: If you’re waiting for Dad to let us stay up all night, don’t hold your breath—he’s super strict about bedtime.
Other Ways to Say: Keep waiting, Good luck with that
8. A snowball’s chance in hell
Meaning: Virtually no chance of happening.
In a Sentence: That old car starting after sitting in the garage for ten years? It’s got a snowball’s chance in hell, we’ll need a miracle.
Other Ways to Say: Zero chance, No hope
9. Not a cat in hell’s chance
Meaning: Absolutely no possibility whatsoever.
In a Sentence: You think I’m going to run a marathon without training? There’s not a cat in hell’s chance I’d survive that!
Other Ways to Say: No way, Completely impossible
10. When the cows come home
Meaning: Something that won’t happen for a very long time, if ever.
In a Sentence: You can borrow my favorite jacket when the cows come home, which means you’re not getting it anytime soon.
Other Ways to Say: Forever and a day, Not anytime soon
11. Like herding cats
Meaning: An impossible task due to its chaotic nature.
In a Sentence: Getting all my friends to agree on a movie night is like herding cats, so it’s probably never going to happen.
Other Ways to Say: Mission impossible, Too chaotic
12. Pie in the sky
Meaning: An unrealistic or unattainable goal.
In a Sentence: His plan to become a billionaire by next year is just pie in the sky, with no real strategy to make it happen.
Other Ways to Say: Wishful thinking, Pipe dream
13. Castles in the air
Meaning: Dreams or plans that are unrealistic and unlikely to happen.
In a Sentence: She’s always building castles in the air about moving to Paris, but she hasn’t even saved a dime for the trip.
Other Ways to Say: Daydreams, Unrealistic plans
14. When the sun rises in the west
Meaning: Something that defies the laws of nature, so it’s impossible.
In a Sentence: You’ll get me to enjoy spicy food when the sun rises in the west, because I can’t handle even a hint of heat!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Against all odds
15. A pipe dream
Meaning: A hope or plan that is impractical or impossible.
In a Sentence: His idea of starting a band with no musical skills is a pipe dream that’s never going to rock the stage.
Other Ways to Say: Fantasy, Unrealistic hope
16. Not on your life
Meaning: Absolutely not, no matter what.
In a Sentence: You want me to sing karaoke in front of everyone? Not on your life, I’d rather stay quietly in the corner!
Other Ways to Say: No chance, Forget it
17. When the moon turns blue
Meaning: An event so rare it’s essentially impossible.
In a Sentence: He’ll finish his homework on time when the moon turns blue, so don’t expect it before the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Once in a blue moon, Hardly ever
18. No dice
Meaning: No chance or refusal to allow something.
In a Sentence: I asked if I could skip chores today, but Mom said no dice, so I’m stuck vacuuming the house.
Other Ways to Say: No go, Not happening
19. Off the table
Meaning: Not an option or possibility.
In a Sentence: Going to the concert instead of studying for finals is completely off the table, according to my parents.
Other Ways to Say: Out of the question, Non-negotiable
20. Not in this lifetime
Meaning: Something that will never happen during one’s life.
In a Sentence: You think I’ll try skydiving? Not in this lifetime, I’m keeping my feet firmly on the ground!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, No way
21. When the stars align
Meaning: Something that requires perfect, unlikely conditions.
In a Sentence: We’ll all agree on a vacation spot when the stars align, but for now, we’re arguing about beaches versus mountains.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect timing, Highly unlikely
22. A long shot
Meaning: Something with a very low chance of success.
In a Sentence: Winning the lottery to pay for college is a long shot, so I’m applying for scholarships instead.
Other Ways to Say: Unlikely, Slim chance
23. Buckle down and fly
Meaning: An absurd, impossible expectation.
In a Sentence: You think I’ll finish this project by tomorrow without any help? I might as well buckle down and fly!
Other Ways to Say: No way, Impossible task
24. When the rivers run dry
Meaning: Something that won’t happen until an impossible event occurs.
In a Sentence: He’ll apologize for his mistake when the rivers run dry, so don’t expect him to admit he was wrong.
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Not in a million years
25. Like squeezing blood from a stone
Meaning: An extremely difficult or impossible task.
In a Sentence: Getting my little sister to share her candy is like squeezing blood from a stone, so I’ve given up trying.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible, Tough luck
26. A fool’s errand
Meaning: A task that is pointless or doomed to fail.
In a Sentence: Trying to convince my teacher to cancel the test is a fool’s errand, but I might as well give it a shot.
Other Ways to Say: Waste of time, Pointless effort
27. Chasing rainbows
Meaning: Pursuing unrealistic or unattainable goals.
In a Sentence: He’s chasing rainbows if he thinks he can finish a novel in a week with no writing experience.
Other Ways to Say: Dream chasing, Unrealistic pursuit
28. When the sky falls
Meaning: Something that will only happen in an apocalyptic scenario.
In a Sentence: I’ll let you borrow my car when the sky falls, because I’m not risking my new ride getting scratched!
Other Ways to Say: End of the world, Never gonna happen
29. Like finding a needle in a haystack
Meaning: Something so unlikely it’s nearly impossible.
In a Sentence: Finding my lost earring in the park is like finding a needle in a haystack, so I’ve already ordered a replacement.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible, Highly unlikely
30. When the world stops turning
Meaning: An event that defies reality, so it’s impossible.
In a Sentence: You’ll get me to stop loving chocolate when the world stops turning, because it’s my favorite treat forever!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Against nature
31. A wild goose chase
Meaning: A pointless pursuit with no chance of success.
In a Sentence: Looking for that limited-edition toy in stores now is a wild goose chase, since they sold out months ago.
Other Ways to Say: Futile effort, Waste of time
32. When the grass grows purple
Meaning: Something that will never happen due to its absurdity.
In a Sentence: He’ll start waking up early when the grass grows purple, so don’t expect him before noon.
Other Ways to Say: Never gonna happen, Totally absurd
33. Not worth holding your breath
Meaning: Not worth expecting because it won’t happen.
In a Sentence: If you’re waiting for the school to cancel homework, it’s not worth holding your breath—it’s part of the deal.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t expect it, No chance
34. When the fish climb trees
Meaning: An impossible, ridiculous scenario.
In a Sentence: You’ll get me to enjoy math homework when the fish climb trees, because numbers just aren’t my thing!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Out of the question
35. A bridge too far
Meaning: Something too ambitious or unattainable.
In a Sentence: Planning a school talent show in one day is a bridge too far, even for our super-organized club.
Other Ways to Say: Too much, Out of reach
36. When the clouds rain chocolate
Meaning: A whimsical, impossible event.
In a Sentence: I’ll stop binge-watching my favorite show when the clouds rain chocolate, so don’t expect me to quit anytime soon.
Other Ways to Say: Never gonna happen, Pure fantasy
37. Like catching lightning in a bottle
Meaning: An extremely rare or impossible feat.
In a Sentence: Getting everyone to agree on a group project topic is like catching lightning in a bottle, so we’re still debating.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible, Rare chance
38. When the desert blooms roses
Meaning: Something that won’t happen due to its unlikely nature.
In a Sentence: He’ll start doing his chores without complaining when the desert blooms roses, so we’re stuck nagging him.
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Highly unlikely
39. No way, José
Meaning: A firm refusal or declaration of impossibility.
In a Sentence: You want me to lend you my new headphones? No way, José, I just got them yesterday!
Other Ways to Say: Not happening, Absolutely not
40. When the wind stops blowing
Meaning: Something that won’t happen because it defies nature.
In a Sentence: You’ll get me to give up my morning coffee when the wind stops blowing, because I need it to function!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, Against reality
41. Like teaching a pig to sing
Meaning: A futile and impossible task.
In a Sentence: Convincing my dog to stop chasing squirrels is like teaching a pig to sing, so I’ve accepted the chaos.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless effort, Mission impossible
42. When the mountains move
Meaning: An event so unlikely it’s unimaginable.
In a Sentence: She’ll change her mind about hating vegetables when the mountains move, so don’t expect her to eat broccoli.
Other Ways to Say: Never gonna happen, Totally impossible
43. Not in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that won’t happen, even rarely.
In a Sentence: You think I’ll forget my best friend’s birthday? Not in a blue moon, I’ve got it marked on my calendar!
Other Ways to Say: Never ever, No chance
44. When the tides turn backward
Meaning: Something that defies natural order, so it’s impossible.
In a Sentence: He’ll stop procrastinating on his assignments when the tides turn backward, so expect late submissions.
Other Ways to Say: Never gonna happen, Against nature
45. Like pushing water uphill
Meaning: An impossible task due to its inherent difficulty.
In a Sentence: Getting my team to finish the project early is like pushing water uphill, so we’ll probably just meet the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible, Tough task
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- If you think I’m going skydiving, you’ll have to wait until _______ fly, because I’m terrified of heights!
- Borrowing my new bike? _______ my dead body, I just got it last week!
- You’ll get me to try sushi _______ in a million years, because raw fish just isn’t my thing.
- He’ll apologize for being late _______ hell freezes over, so don’t hold your breath.
- You think we’ll finish this group project on time? _______ chance, we’re already behind schedule.
- Beating me at chess? _______ your dreams, I’ve been practicing for years!
- If you’re waiting for her to share her dessert, _______ hold your breath—it’s not happening.
- That rusty old bike working again has a _______’s chance in hell, so we’ll need a new one.
- You can use my laptop _______ the cows come home, because I need it for school.
- Getting everyone to agree on a plan is like _______ cats, so good luck with that!
- His idea of becoming famous overnight is just _______ in the sky, with no real effort behind it.
- She’ll start waking up early _______ the sun rises in the west, so don’t expect her before noon.
- Convincing my parents to let me skip homework is _______ on your life, they’re super strict.
- He’ll finish his chores on time _______ the moon turns blue, so we’re still waiting.
- I asked for extra credit, but the teacher said it’s _______ dice, so I’ll have to study harder.
Answers:
pigs, Over, not, when, Fat, In, don’t, snowball, when, herding, pie, when, not, when, no
Conclusion
Idioms for “never going to happen” are a lively and entertaining way to express impossibility with a dash of humor or emphasis. They bring color to your conversations, making it easier to shut down unrealistic ideas or add a playful tone to your refusals. By incorporating these 45 idioms into your daily speech, you’ll not only sound more fluent but also connect more effectively with others in a fun, memorable way. Practice them in real-life scenarios—at school, with friends, or even in writing—to make them second nature. Language is a powerful tool, and idioms like these make it an absolute blast to use!